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Time series of ecological network analysis indices over the 20 years simulation for scenarios 1-3. Scenario 1: the current, scenario 2: one time the ecological carrying capacity, and scenario 3: two times the ecological carrying capacity of the biomass of Manila clam, Ruditapes philippinarum.
Source publication
The Ria de Aveiro is an important coastal lagoon for wildlife in Portugal, where the production of bivalves reaches approximately 2700 tons annually. However, the illegal overfishing of bivalves is frequent in this lagoon, which causes critical changes in the ecosystem. In this study, using a developed food-web model (Ecopath model), the ecological...
Contexts in source publication
Context 1
... size of the ecosystem increased due to the increase in Manila clam biomass from scenarios 1 to 3, which can be seen from the elevated values of the total system throughput, capacity, and ascendency (Fig. 1). The Finn cycling index and ascendency increased dramatically due to the introduction of large clam biomass quantities. The network of material exchange, as indicated by average mutual information, decreased during the first two years of simulation in scenario 3 and increased volatility thereafter, with values higher than the initial ...
Context 2
... further increase in R. philippinarum has impacts on the ecosystem of the Portuguese coastal shallow lagoon, as demonstrated by various ecological indicators, such as total system throughput, ascendency, Finn cycling index, Kempton's Q, and transfer efficiency (Fig. 1). From scenarios 1 to 2, the total system throughput, representing the system's size and energy flow (Hermosillo-Núñez et al., 2018), increased dramatically, and consequently, the elevated ascendency was observed, improving the systems' resistance to disturbances. Mature systems have been reported to have higher values in cycling (Odum, ...
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Citations
... Bivalves, including clams, mussels, and oysters, hold essential roles within aquatic ecosystems, contributing significantly to the dynamics of food webs, nutrient cycling, and water quality [6]. Such organsims have been used as reliable sentinels of contamination [7], since they filter large volumes of water, accumulating MPs [8]. ...
Microplastics (MPs) global ubiquitously affects particularly coastal regions under
significant anthropogenic pressures, where there are limited monitoring efforts. Bivalves
are valuable sentinels of MPs contamination. This investigation determined MP
contamination in oysters, clams, and mussels at Santos-São Vicente, a heavily urbanized
estuary in Brazil, focusing on socio-environmental predictors, spatial distribution, and
interspecies variations. Elevated MPs levels were linked to higher human modification (β
= 0.5747, p = 0.0223) and reduced population density (β = -8.918e-06, p = 0.0443),
regardless of vegetation cover (p > 0.05). Such a negative connection between population
density and MP contamination occurred due to the significant presence of industrial and
port activities, leading to high MP discharges despite a low population. The simultaneous
presence of the three species at specific sites is an intrinsic limitation for broad spatial
studies, depending on their environmental availability. Despite higher concentrations in
clams, mussels and oysters also exhibited spatial variations in MP concentrations, serving
as suitable sentinels. The central and left segments of the estuary displayed elevated MP
concentrations, consistent with a well-known contamination gradient. Clams
accumulated more MPs (1.97 ± 1.37 [0.00 – 5.55] particles.g-1
) than mussels (0.72 ± 1.07
[0.00 – 7.74] particles.g-1
) and oysters (0.70 ± 1.03 [0.00 – 7.70] particles.g-1
), suggesting
higher bioavailability in sediments than the water column. MPs found across all species
were predominantly smaller (<1,000 µm), fragments or fibers, and colorless. These
discoveries lay a groundwork for prospective global investigations by linking MPs
concentrations to socio-environmental predictors, contributing to the development of
local mitigation measures and global discussions.
